hickok



1785- 1956 G. G. HICKOK.

KNEELING BENCH FOR FOLDING CHAIRS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 16, 1952 /n ven for G/enn G. Hickok Feb. 14, 1956 HICKQK KNEELING BENCH FOR FOLDING CHAIRS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 16, 1952 /'n ven for G/enn G. Hickok Q4 J]. M Afrome Feb. 14, 1956 G. H cKgK KNEELING BENCH FOR FOLDING CHAIRS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 16, 1952 United States Patent KNEELING BENCH FOR FOLDING CHAIRS Glenn G. Hickok, Ionia, Mich., assignor to Ionia Manufacturing Company, Inc., Ionia, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application July 16, 1952, Serial No. 299,266

6 Claims. (Cl. 155-466) The present invention provides a folding kneeling bench mechanism as an accessory to a folding chair. This mechanism is easily and effectively incorporated in a folding chair mechanism of the type shown and described in the Burnham Patent Number 2,568,269, but is not limited to use in conjunction with that mechanism. A folding chair equipped with a unit of this general type is very valuable to church organizations, and for purposes related to church activities. Rituals involving kneeling in prayer are very frequently conducted at locations where permanent seating facilities and built-in kneeling bench installations are not available.

Providing a folding chair with a kneeling bench attachment is not broadly new. Since an important characteristic of a folding chair is its ability .to be collapsed into a very limited space, the primary problem in providing folding chairs with extra accessories has been the difliculty of folding them into the area remaining after the primary chair structure has been collapsed. It is also important that the accessories to a folding chair be operated through its folding movement by the folding action of the primary chair structure, insofar as is possible. The present invention provides a folding mechanism for a kneeling bench platform in which the major portion of the folding action is induced by the folding movement of the primary chair structure. This factor is extremely important in view of the problem of setting up a large number of chairs in a hall. To force personnel to fold and unfold a separate mechanism after the chair has been erected is a very time-consuming matter. In the preferred form of the present invention, a set of auxiliary supporting legs is handled separately; but the placement of the bench platform in active position is handled entirely by mechanism associated directly with the primary chair structure.

The features of the present invention will be discussed in detail through an analysis of the particular embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings:

Figure 1 presents a perspective view of a folding chair provided with a kneeling bench constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a section in elevation on a plane taken through the central portion of a chair.

Figure 3 is a section taken on a plane similar to that of Figure 2, with the chair in thefirst stages of the folding movement.

Figure 4 is a section taken on a plane similar to that of Figures 2 and 3, with a chair in a further stage of its folding movement.

Figure 5 is a view taken on a plane similar to that of Figures 2, 3, and 4, showing the chair mechanism in a still further stage in its folding movement.

Figure 6 is a section taken on a plane similar to that of Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5, showing the chair and kneeling bench in the fully folded position.

Figure 7 is a section taken on the plane 77 of Figure 8 and showing the preferred auxiliary leg structure of the kneeling bench. I

, 2,734,557 Patented Feb. 14, 1956 Figure 8 is a section taken on the plane 88 of Figure 7.

Referring to Figure 1, a folding chair of the type illustrated in the Burnham Patent Number 2,568,269 is shown provided with a folding kneeling bench mechanism constructed according to the present invention. The chair itself includes the front legs 10 and 11, the rear legs 12 and 13, the seat 14, and the back portion generally indi cated at 15. A rod 16 connects the lower portions of the front legs 10 and 11, and a similar rod 17 connects the lower portions of the rear legs 12 and 13. Suitable rubber feet as indicated at 18, 19, 20, and 21 are provided at the lower extremities of the legs, according to conventional practice.

Referring particularly to Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, the seat 14 is pivotally connected to the front legs at the rod 22, and to the rear legs at the rod 23. The upper ends of the rear legs, as indicated at 24, are pivotally connected to links as indicated at 25 (see Figures 3 and 4), the links, in turn, being pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the front legs. During the folding movement of the chair, the links 25 move out of the front leg structure, and maintain the assembled relationship between the front and rear legs. The action of this portion of the structure forms no part of the present invention, and is clearly shown in the sequence of views shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The mechanism illustrated is shown and discussed in detail in the Burnham Patent Number 2,568,269 herein referred to.

The kneeling bench is preferably an inverted panshaped member 26 provided with the extended arms 27 and 28. These arms are provided with the slots as indicated at 29. The rod 17 engages the slots 29, and becomes a fulcrum about which the kneeling bench assembly rotates during the majority of its folding movement. Links 39 and 31 are pivotally connected to the arms 27 and 28 as indicated at 32, and at their opposite ends are pivotally connected as at 33 to the seat 14. During the folding movement of the chair, the seat 14 rotates in a clockwise direction about the rod 22. Such movement of course tends to effect a pulling action upon the links 30 and 31. This movement pulls the kneeling bench assembly in such a direction that the rod 17 abuts against the rear portion of the slots 29. When such abutment has taken place, further pulling movement by the links 30 and 31 will result in rotating the kneeling bench assembly in a counterclockwise direction about the rod 17 as a fulcrum. It will also be noted that with the assembly in the fully extended position shown in Figure 2, the chair may be picked up without the kneeling bench falling into an awkward position, due to the contact between the rod 17 and the links 30 and 31. Any tendency for the kneeling bench to fall under the urging of gravity will bring the pivot point 32 downward and cause the link 30 to abut against the rod 17. Such abutment, of course, prevents any further movement.

The point at which folding rotation about the rod 17 begins is illustrated in Figure 3. It may be noted that the pulling movement established by the clockwise rotation of the seat 14 is implemented, as far as the action of the links 30 and 31 is concerned, by the downward movement of the'rear legs 12 and 13. Such downward movement carries the rod 17 with it, and increases the differential movement between the pivot points 32 and 33.

Figure 5 illustrates a point in the folding movement in which a change in the general behaviour of the mechanism takes place. Reference to Figure 4 will indicate that as the chair moves toward folded position, the links 30 and 31 maintain a generally transverse position with respect to the front legs, and gradually approach the point where they contact the rod 22. This condition is illustrated in Figure 5. The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings shows the links and 31 formed with a bent area at 34 so that this point of contact with the rod 22 will take place at precisely the desired time. After such contact has taken place, further clockwise rotation of the seat 14 about the rod 22 will maintain the links 30 and 31 in abutting relationship with the rod 22. The rod 22 will therefore act as a fulcrum, and the links 30 and 31 will begin to function as levers. The length of the links 36 and 31 below the rod 22 is sufiiciently greater than the distance between the rod and the upper pivot points 33 to create a rather high magnification of the movement of the pivot points 33 about the rod 22. The lower end of the links 30 and 31 at the pivot points 32 will therefore move through a much greater distance, and will snap the bench platform 26 into the folded position shown in Figure 6 during the last few degrees of folding move ment of the primary chair structure. During the portion of the folding movement at which the links 3t) and 31 operate as levers, the rod 17 acts as a fulcrum for the movement of the bench platform 26. The rod does not abut the end of the slots 29 during this stage of the movement, but nevertheless the relative position of the rod 17 and the pivot points 32 determine the angular position of the bench platform. It will no doubt be noted that the use of the lever action described above makes it unnecessary to use such a high degree of precision in the manufacture of the chair as would be necessary if the slot 2? were merely a hole which permitted no sliding movement, and if the entire folding of the bench mechanism were performed through the axial pulling action of the links. The variation in the distance between the points of pivot inherent in manufacture would make such an arrangement very ditlicult to produce. No such serious or critical tolerance accumulations are present in the mechanism described above. The position of the ends of the slot 29 do not determine the final folded position of the kneeling bench. Several arrangements equivalent to the slots 29 may be used, such as a slot at either end of the links 30 and 31 where they engage the pivot points 32 or 33. The important characteristic obtained by any of these measures is the establishment of a lost-motion connection at some point in the series of connections between the pivot point 33 and the rod 17.

To support the rear portion of the kneeling platform 26, a set of independently-operated legs 35 and 36 is used. These legs have suitable rubber feet 37 and 33 provided at their lower ends in a fashion similar to the legs of the primary chair structure. The rear legs 35 and 3d of the kneeling bench platform are preferably folded independently in a fashion similar to the mech anism provided by the conventional card table. In Figure 7, the dotted lines indicate the folded position of the leg 35 up undernea.'h the platform 26. The U-shaped member 39 (see Figure 8) is secured to the side flange 40 of the platform 26, and acts as a fulcrum support for the upper end of the leg 36. A pin 41 passes through the arms of the member 3? and through the upper end of the leg 35 to form the actual fulcrum about which the leg 35 pivots during its independent folding movement. The member 39 has an extended portion 42 provided with a hole 43. The leg 36 is of hollow construc tion, and has a hole in its side wall disposed at the same radial distance from the pin 41 as is the hole 43 in the member 39. The alignment of the hole 43 and the similar hole in the side wall of the leg 35 takes place with the leg in its erected position; and at that time a pin 4dengages both of these holes to lock the leg against further rotation about the pin 41. The locking pin 44- is mounted upon the end of the resilient arm 45, and may be disengaged from looking position by pressing upon the actuating button 46, which is also mounted upon the resilient arm 45. The button 46 passes through a suitable hole in the side wall of the leg 35, and is manually depressed whenever it is desirable to fold the leg 35 into the dotted position shown in Figure 7. A reinforcement member 47 is preferably provided to reinforce the flange 40 of the platform 26 at the area adjacent the leg 35. Similar structure to that shown in Figures 7 and 8 is provided at opposite sides of the platform 26.

The particular embodiments of the present invention which have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and are discussed herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be considered as a limitation upon the scope of the appended claims. In these claims, it is my intention to claim the entire invention except as I am limited by the prior art.

I claim:

1. In combination with a folding chair having a seat, front and rear legs pivotally connected to said seat, and links connecting the upper ends of said rear legs respectively to said front legs, a folding kneeling bench, comprising: means forming a kneeling platform, said platform being pivotally mounted on said rear legs for rotation on an axis substantially parallel to the axes of the pivotal connections of said front and rear legs to said seat, and slideable with limited movement in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of said platform and perpendicular to said axes; link means pivotally connected at one end to said seat in front of said front legs, and at the opposite end to said platform means behind the rearmost position with respect to said platform means of the axis of the pivotal mounting of said platform means on said rear legs, considered with said chair in erected condition, the length of said link means and the points of pivotal connection at the ends thereof being selected to induce rotation of said platform toward the plane of said rear legs during the folding of said chair; abutment means fixed with respect to said front legs disposed to limit the movement of said link means along said front legs, and adapted to act as a fulcrum on engagement of said link means therewith; and foldable leg means disposed to support the rear portion of said platform.

2. In combination with a folding chair having a seat, front and rear legs pivotally connected to said seat, and links connecting the upper ends of said rear legs respectively to said front legs, a folding kneeling bench, comprising: means forming a kneeling platform, said platform being pivotally mounted on said rear legs for rotation on an axis substantially parallel to the axes of the pivotal connections of said front and rear legs to said seat, and slideable with limited movement in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of said platform and perpendicular to said axes; link means pivotally connected at one end to said seat in front of said front legs, and at the opposite end to said platform means behind the rearmost position with respect to said platform means of the axis of the pivotal mounting of said platform means on said rear legs, considered with said chair in erected condition, the length of said link means and the points of pivotal connection at the ends thereof being selected to induce rotation of said platform toward the plane of said rear legs during the folding of said chair; and abutment means fixed with respect to said front legs disposed to limit the movement of said link means along said front legs, and adapted to act as a fulcrum on engagement of said link means therewith.

3. In combination with a folding chair having a seat, front and rear legs pivotally connected to said seat, and links connecting the upper ends of said rear legs respectively to said front legs, a folding kneeling bench, comprising: means forming a kneeling platform, said platform being pivotally mounted on said rear legs for rotation on an axis substantially parallel to the axes of the pivotal connections of said front and rear legs to said seat, and slideable with limited movement in a direction substantially parallel to the plane of said platform and perpendicular to said axes; and link means pivotally connected at one end to said seat in front of said front legs, and at the opposite end to said platform means behind the rearmost position with respect to said platform means .of the axis of the pivotal mounting of said platform means .on said rear legs, considered with said chair in erected condition, the length of said link means and the point of pivotal connection at the ends thereof being selected to induce rotation of said platform toward the plane of said rear legs during the folding of said chair.

4. In combination with a folding chair having a seat, front and rear legs pivotally connected to said seat, a folding kneeling bench, comprising: means forming a kneeling platform, said platform being pivotally mounted on said rear legs for rotation on an axis substantially parallel to the axes of the pivotal connections of said front and rear legs to said seat; link means pivotally connected at one end to said seat in front of said front legs, and at the opposite end to said platform means behind the position of the axis of the pivotal mounting of said platform means on said rear legs, considered with said chair in erected condition, the length of said link means and the points of pivotal connection at the ends thereof being selected to induce rotation of said platform toward the plane of said rear legs during the folding of said chair;

means forming a lost-motion connection between the point of connection of said link means to said seat and the mounting of said platform means on said rear legs; and abutment means fixed with respect to said front legs disposed to limit the movement of said link means along said front legs, and adapted to act as a fulcrum on engagement of said link means therewith.

5. In combination with a folding chair having a seat, front and rear legs pivotally connected to said seat, a folding kneeling bench, comprising: means forming a kneeling platform, said platform being pivotally mounted on said rear legs for rotation on an axis substantially parallel to the axes of the pivotal connections of said front and rear legs to said seat; link means pivotally connected at one end to said seat in front of said front legs, and at the opposite end to said platform means behind the position of the axis of the pivotal mounting of said platform means on said rear legs, considered with said chair in erected condition, the length of said link means and the points of pivotal connection at the ends thereof being selected to induce rotation of said platform toward the plane of said rear legs during the folding of said chair; and means forming a lost-motion connection between the point of connection of said link means to said seat and the mounting of said platform means on said rear legs.

6. In combination with a folding chair having a seat and front and rear legs pivotally connected to said seat, a folding kneeling bench, comprising: means forming a kneeling platform, said platform being pivotally mounted on said rear legs for rotation on an axis substantially paraliel to the axes of the pivotal connections of said front and rear legs to said seat; and link means pivotally connected at one end to said seat in front of said front legs, and at the opposite end to said platform means behind the rearmost position of the axis of the pivotal mounting of said platform means on said rear legs, considered with said chair in erected condition, the length of said link means and the points of pivotal connection at the ends thereof being selected to induce rotation of said platform toward the plane of said rear legs during the folding of said chair.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

